Fault on Automatic Gearbox, suggestions please

[carlnbex]

Hello All

 

I am a newbie on here, so not too sure if i am posting in the correct part of the forum.

 

I have a 2006 skoda superb mk1 v6 2.5tdi, i have lost all power and the i think the gearbox is slipping.I managed to get it looked at by my local garage but he doesn't really want to touch automatic cars (they take up too much time).

 

I have the fault codes listed as below, should i cut my losses and run away from the faults, or should I stick with the car and get it repaired ??

 

17125 - torgue converter clutch PO741 - 35-10 stuck off / no power being transferred -  intermittent

 

17114 - gear ratio monitoring PO 730 - 35-00 incorrect gear ratio

 

i spoke to a garage that specialises in automatic gearboxes but he will only replace the gearbox at a cost of £1800.

 

is it worth changing the gearbox oil and filter ? ( i can't afford to do this and then find out i have to replace the whole gearbox) I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

I would like your thoughts on this and any advise you have as well

 

Thanking you kindly

 

just more info about the car, mileage 146k i have had the car approx 8 months, replaced CV joints, gave it a full service, car is now due it's 10k service

 

 

Carl

[Gaz]

Can't offer any advice, just empathy.  Blowed if I know what I'd do as they're getting to the point now where big bills mean hard decisions.

 

It's a value judgement really in what it's worth to you.  If it were me I'd get more opinions from other autobox specialists, to try to work out if it's a repairable mechanical failure or new box needed.  And having said that, I've found repaired autobox's never get back to their pre-fault condition - just my experience.

 

I'd think a fluid and filter change might be a false economy, if you don't know for sure it's a possible cure for the fault.  But that's just my opinion.  Comment on another website by an Audi technician 'performing a transmission fluid and filter service will not fix this issue. It is caused by a seal leak inside of the torque converter.' seems to answer that question   

 

In your position I could probably justify the cost of replacing the box if need be.  Just.

 

Not much help, but I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

 

Gaz

 

Edit: just started reading up about it - might not be terminal:

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/17125/P0741/001857

More reading seems to point toward it needing a new torque converter:

http://uberlame.com/a6_tsb/Transmission/Torque%20converter%20clutch%20circuit%20performance%20or%20stuck%20off.pdf

[Phil-E]

These gearboxes usually benefit from an oil change around the 100k miles mark.

Yours sounds slightly beyond that though. Once you get the problem sorted be sure to give it an oil change.

It may be as simple as a dodgy sensor.

[jimbof]

I did my fluid at 96K and it failed slightly afterwards, but it had already slipped once in reverse previously. ZF's own recommendation is whatever the vehicle manufacturer says, or "ZF automatic transmissions are filled with specially developed oils. At very high operating temperatures, the oil ages faster than under normal conditions. Depending on the driving style (e.g., many trips at high speeds or sporty driving), ZF recommends a transmission oil change every 80 000 to 120 000 km, or after 8 years at the latest."

I wish I hadn't bothered with the fluid change and gone straight for the gearbox replacement.

£1800 is a bitter pill to swallow at that mileage / age - the car can't be worth much more now. If you do do it, make sure you get it done by someone who'll give you (and stand by) a good warranty on it - you at least want to get some good miles out of it.

The place who did mine said you should really be getting both the torque converter and gearbox done together; my bill came to £1500. It wasn't totally straightforward though - the first attempt left me with a thumping going down into 1st, and after the second go I had a clunk whihc turned out to be the exhaust being misaligned (probably front the gearbox removal).

I've had 45,000 miles out of my replacement box and it is still going good now, still love driving the car.

[icyd]

My mech would advice for secondhand box for rm3k,that's about less than £600 with 6 mnth warranty. But if anything happens to my box beyond needing oil and filter change,i'd go for manual all the way

[jimbof]

If you can get a good second hand box / TC it is a good option; to find one though... Most of the ones on EBay are sold as broken. There is a guy on eBay in Bristol who offers to fix these for £1000 - it was a bit far for me to chance with a gearbox on the way out.

[KenONeill]

Ok, it's accepted that this could be something more terminal, but I do know several people who've cured similar problems on PSA cars with an oil change.